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What was West Berlin like during the Cold War?
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:00 pm
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:00 pm
So obviously Germany itself was divided, as well Berlin. But Berlin wasn’t on the border. It was deep into east Germany.
From what I understand, West Berlin stayed relatively “free” much like west Germany was. While East Berlin mimicked East Germany as a closed off communist hell hole.
I think there was a dedicate Highway for people in and out of West Berlin back to west Germany right? Did people flee West Berlin to not be surrounded by East Germany effectively? Seems pretty risky basically assuming the Soviet’s wouldn’t swallow it up although I guess they never did.
I guess in my head it just seems like a pretty crazy logistic situation to live in a western enclave surrounded by USSR territory.
From what I understand, West Berlin stayed relatively “free” much like west Germany was. While East Berlin mimicked East Germany as a closed off communist hell hole.
I think there was a dedicate Highway for people in and out of West Berlin back to west Germany right? Did people flee West Berlin to not be surrounded by East Germany effectively? Seems pretty risky basically assuming the Soviet’s wouldn’t swallow it up although I guess they never did.
I guess in my head it just seems like a pretty crazy logistic situation to live in a western enclave surrounded by USSR territory.
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:05 pm to jlovel7
After VE day, Germany was divided into quadrants and controlled by the US, UK, France and the USSR. Berlin was divided the same way.
The US, UK and France let their areas combine into what was called West Germany, while the USSR installed a puppet regime in East Germany.
West Berlin was surrounded by East Germany and at one point the USSR shut off all road access thinking it would make the democracies abandon West Berlin. We started the Berlin Airlift under JFK and kept West Berlin going until the USSR relented and opened road access again.
The US, UK and France let their areas combine into what was called West Germany, while the USSR installed a puppet regime in East Germany.
West Berlin was surrounded by East Germany and at one point the USSR shut off all road access thinking it would make the democracies abandon West Berlin. We started the Berlin Airlift under JFK and kept West Berlin going until the USSR relented and opened road access again.
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:09 pm to jlovel7
The music/art scene was really weird
And the Berlin Airlift was way before JFK
And the Berlin Airlift was way before JFK
This post was edited on 6/14/23 at 9:11 pm
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:12 pm to SpotCheckBilly
quote:
West Berlin was surrounded by East Germany and at one point the USSR shut off all road access thinking it would make the democracies abandon West Berlin. We started the Berlin Airlift under JFK and kept West Berlin going until the USSR relented and opened road access again.
One of the coolest parts of the Cold War. That’s when we should’ve known that we would’ve won just like the generals were saying after WWII. Should’ve listened to Patton, instead our leftist government had him killed.
This post was edited on 6/14/23 at 9:12 pm
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:12 pm to jlovel7
When my SO was in high school her family took a trip to Europe, including Berlin. She met a Czech college student there and they ended up being pen pals for a few years. Her father happened to work for NASA and I have wondered if this was a targeted "chance encounter" to see if something developed. If so, nothing ever came of it besides occasional letters.
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:14 pm to SpotCheckBilly
quote:
Berlin Airlift
Truman
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:14 pm to jlovel7
It was like, sometimes you're better off dead. There's a gun in your hand it's pointing at your head. You think you're mad, too unstable. Kicking in chairs and knocking down tables in a restaurant in a West End town. Call the police, there's a mad man around. Running down underground to a dive bar in a West End town.
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:16 pm to jlovel7
In Berlin
By the wall
You were five foot ten inches tall
It was very nice
Candlelight and Dubonnet on ice
By the wall
You were five foot ten inches tall
It was very nice
Candlelight and Dubonnet on ice
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:16 pm to jlovel7
There was a single rail line for western visitors to West Berlin. I didn’t go there at that time but my wife did. I travelled in Hungary and Yugoslavia during the Soviet occupation. It was a different time, for sure. Just coincidentally, my daughter was in Berlin last month and she went to the Berlin Wall Museum and couldn’t believe it actually existed.
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:18 pm to jlovel7
Have you ever read about the Berlin Airlift ? You will find it interesting. Read about when the wall was thrown up. Look at some of the early pictures.
Read about Checkpoint Charlie and the guy that went under the bars n a sports car. All kinds of stuff to read.

Read about Checkpoint Charlie and the guy that went under the bars n a sports car. All kinds of stuff to read.
This post was edited on 6/14/23 at 9:20 pm
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:19 pm to jlovel7
Like day and night, literally, going from a world of color to grey, black, white
You entered from the west by train or by car. Got searched etc.
Once inside West Berlin it was just the same as say Paris or London. More frenetic.
Meanwhile one check point over into the East you had constant surveillance, shortages of basic foods and household goods.
LINK https://footage-berlin.com/en/leisure-time-in-east-and-west-germany-1970/
LINK https://www.visitberlin.de/en/living-divided-city-west-berlin
You entered from the west by train or by car. Got searched etc.
Once inside West Berlin it was just the same as say Paris or London. More frenetic.
Meanwhile one check point over into the East you had constant surveillance, shortages of basic foods and household goods.
LINK https://footage-berlin.com/en/leisure-time-in-east-and-west-germany-1970/
LINK https://www.visitberlin.de/en/living-divided-city-west-berlin
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:19 pm to Bigfishchoupique
You'd have better luck if you recommended YouTube video I don't think these tards can read
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:22 pm to OWLFAN86
quote:
You'd have better luck if you recommended YouTube video I don't think these tards can read

This post was edited on 6/14/23 at 9:23 pm
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:25 pm to Bigfishchoupique
I mean people on this board say they like history but there's about four or five people here maybe that even know Western history or God help us American history
I've been rereading Churchill's biography of Marlborough
I've been rereading Churchill's biography of Marlborough
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:29 pm to OWLFAN86
Always like the movie Good Bye, Lenin!
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:34 pm to sqerty
quote:
Always like the movie Good Bye, Lenin!
Another great movie about the divided Berlin is Billy Wilder's 1961 One, Two, Three.
Posted on 6/14/23 at 9:40 pm to blueridgeTiger
quote:the Third Man is a GREAT movie
Another great movie about the divided Berlin is Billy Wilder's 1961 One, Two, Three.
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